Haitian authorities confirm Erik Prince-linked mercenaries took part in anti-gang raids

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian authorities have publicly confirmed for the first time that private security personnel linked to Erik Prince’s private military firm took part in anti-gang operations alongside national forces, including a Jan. 14 raid targeting the stronghold of gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier in Delmas 6.

Officials said the operation involved officers from the Haitian National Police (PNH), the Armed Forces of Haiti, the Prime Minister’s Task Force, the Gang Suppression Force and a private military contractor later identified as Vectus Global.

For months, reports of mercenaries from the private military company operating alongside PNH had circulated widely. Until now, however, neither the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), the prime minister’s office nor police leadership had formally acknowledged their presence.

The confirmation follows recent remarks by Mario Andrésol, Haiti’s secretary of state for public security, who disclosed earlier this month that Vectus Global — a firm led by the former U.S. Navy SEAL— had deployed personnel to Haiti as part of enhanced coordination with national and international security forces.

“With these personnel on the ground, I wouldn’t say progress is being made with significantly greater professionalism, but you can feel more cohesion,” Andrésol said during a Jan. 7 interview on Radio Magik 9. He insisted that Port-au-Prince “will not fall” to gangs and said authorities are working to retake key areas and reopen major routes.

“It will not fall, and we are now in a process to retake the city center as well as reopen the southern and northern routes ahead of the Feb. 7 event [possible departure of the CPT, whose mandate is set to expire].”

Seizures of weapons, tactics and expanded operations

Security sources say Prince-linked mercenaries began supporting operations in 2025, providing logistical and aerial assistance, including helicopter support, during police actions in Carrefour-Feuilles, Kenscoff and Croix-des-Bouquets. Those operations led to the seizure of high-caliber weapons, including a Barrett M82 rifle, and heavy equipment used by gangs such as 400 Mawozo.

In early 2026, similar support was reported in operations in Bel-Air and lower Delmas, areas long controlled by armed groups.

Authorities say the Jan. 14 operation in Delmas 6 follows earlier offensives targeting the Jamesley, Jean Gardy and Bout Janjan gangs, as police intensify efforts to dismantle Viv Ansanm, a powerful gang coalition blamed for widespread violence in the capital.

“With these combined units — Haitian soldiers, international forces and Vectus Global — the police are pressing their offensive in downtown Port-au-Prince,” the PNH said.

According to the police’s general directorate, recent operations have resulted in the seizure of about 33 firearms, more than 12,000 rounds of ammunition, tactical vests, radios, police uniforms and press vests. Authorities reported multiple arrests and said several gang members were killed during exchanges of gunfire.

Police have deployed armored vehicles and, increasingly, explosive drones in gang-controlled neighborhoods. Videos circulating on social media show drones striking buildings believed to be used as gang hideouts, causing partial collapses.

As of Thursday, police had not released an official after-action report from the Delmas 6 operation, and Chérizier’s whereabouts remained unknown.

Still, authorities signaled no retreat.

“This operation aims to remove all terrorist gangs occupying the neighborhood and to restore peace in the area,” the PNH said, vowing to continue its campaign against Viv Ansanm and other armed groups operating in Port-au-Prince and beyond.

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